England
blunder
Ruchira
Perera (C) is embraced by team-mate Hashan Tillakaratne,
with captain Sanath Jayasuriya (L) running in to celebrate,
after trapping England batsman Graham Thorpe lbw for
27 during the third day of the first Power Test match
at Lords yesterday. AFP |
LONDON,
May 18 - Blundering England were forced to follow on in the
first test on Saturday as Sri Lanka's unheralded seamers skittled
the hosts for 275 in the final session of the third day.
Following
on England were 53 for no loss at the end of the third day
with bad light calling an early end. England, always on the
back foot after Sri Lanka's first innings of 555 for eight,
had looked to be edging towards safety on 203 for three approaching
tea. But Ruchira Perera, with two wickets in two balls, and
Buddika Fernando, with two in three immediately after the
break, tore the heart out of the batting.
Those
wickets sandwiched Alec Stewart's suicidal run-out as five
wickets tumbled for 34. A ninth-wicket stand of 30 between
John Crawley and Andy Caddick only delayed the inevitable.
Sri Lanka, seeking their 10th test win in a row but without
leading bowler Muttiah Muralitharan, looked to be labouring
on a perfect batting strip until Perera's double strike.
England
Batsman Mark Butcher (L) is caught out by Sri Lanka's
Mahela Jayawardene (down) from a ball bowled by Dilhara
Fernando (R) on the third day of the first test match
at Lords, May 18, 2002. |
First
he induced Michael Vaughan, the top-scorer with 64 after four
hours of defiance, to top-edge a lazy hook to fine leg, where
Nuwan Zoysa brushed off a collision with a team mate to take
the catch. Graham Thorpe fell next ball lbw for 27, shuffling
across his stumps.
England,
who had dropped three straightforward catches during the Sri
Lankan innings, then compounded their problems as Crawley
called for an impossible single to point and substitute fielder
Upul Chandana threw down the stumps with Stewart well short
of his ground.
He was
replaced by giant all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who opened
his innings with three fours before edging a short delivery
from Fernando to the wicketkeeper.
Dominic Cork followed immediately in similar fashion to make
it 237 for eight as the collapse continued. (Reuters)
Openers
put India 'A' in box seat
By Bernie Wijesekera
Despite a delayed start due to rain the Indian 'A' team openers
Akash Chopra, a solid 51 (in 122 balls) and left hander Gautam
Gambhir, a stroke filled 120 (in 186 balls with 15 fours, 236
mts.), put their side in an unassailable position by being associated
in an opening stand of 302 for 4 at close in their second innings
to lead by 417 runs on day three of their first unofficial 4-day
test continued at the SSC grounds yesterday.
India
in the first innings made 315 and skittled out Sri Lanka 'A'
for 200 runs, thank to a tantalising spell of spin bowling
coming from A. Misra (5 for 35), who had the middle batting
falling on the way side after being 152 for 5, but four wickets
fell for seven runs. Misra caused the misery. His first -
skipper Dilshan (37) was caught behind. Thanks to a last wicket
stand of 39 runs between R. Herath (21 n.o) and Chamila Gamage
(18, with 4 fours), helped them to get 200 runs.
Play got
underway at 11.30 a.m. due to rain, but continued up to 6.30
p.m. in poor light.Both Chopra and left hander Gautam Gambhir
batting with composure took control. The pair in the warm-up
game against the Development Squad put on 252 for the first
wicket. Gambhir who made a top score of 79 runs in the first
essay, batted with authority and stroked the ball beautifully.
He raced to his 50 with three successive fours off off-spinner
Pushpakumara - a pull, a straight drive and a lofted drive,
showed a touch of class and the score was made in 51 balls.
Wesley
down Carey
Wesley coming out for the first time and fielding a depleted
side due to injury had to fight hard to register a 24 points
(two goals, two tries) to 13 points (one goal two penalties)
win over Carey in their inter-school rugby match conluded at
the Havelock Park yesterday. Wesley led at the breather 7-6.
Carey
playing in the 'A' division for the first time gave a good
account themselves with their gutty tackling but the running
and the pack was not fast and strong enough to prevent their
opponents from scoring. Wesley opened scoring in the tenth
minute when full back Zakir Badurdeen scored under the post
for Prasad Perera to put the finishing touches.
Carey
reduced the lead when they succeded by putting over a penalty
and repeated it with another penalty. Lemons were taken with
Wesley leading 7-6. Resumng in the second half Wesley scored
three more tries through prop forward Irfan Nalawangsa who
scored two and wing three Amila Subasinghe of which one was
converted by Prasad. -MSA
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